Weed-Free Forage

North American Weed Free Forage Certification

There is a growing demand in North America for the use of certified weed free forage and mulch as a preventative program in Integrated Weed Management Systems to limit the spread of noxious weeds. The goal of this program is to provide guidelines to set minimum requirements for uniform participation of provinces and states in the program.

The standards are designed

To provide some assurance to all participants that forage certified through this program meets a minimum acceptable standard.

Weed Free Forage Producers

Frequently Asked Questions

An opportunity to move forage freely in restricted areas, both intrastate and interstate.

A producer list of available certified forage.

Where is certified forage required?
Certified public and provincial lands have areas that require North American weed free forage. Weed free forage is required on many U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands, in National Parks, Bureau of Reclamation land, military locations, tribal lands as well as National Fish and Wildlife refuges. Restrictions may apply to other lands administered by provincial, county, state or federal agencies. Respective land managers must be contacted for the most current information.

How do I get my forage certified?
Contact the Department of Agriculture at least 1-2 weeks prior to cutting or harvesting. A Department representative must make an inspection in the field or origin prior to cutting or harvesting. Certification is based on a reasonable and prudent visual inspection of the field. A field includes surrounding ditches, fence rows, roads, right-of-ways or buffer zones surrounding the outside edge of a field. A certificate of inspection form is issued to the producer if the field meets the requirements of the weed free forage certification standards.

What if noxious weeds are present in the field?
Forage which contains North American designated noxious weeds may be certified if the following requirements are met:

The field where the forage was produced has been treated to prevent seed formation or seed ripening and propagative parts of the plant are not capable of producing a new plant.

Designated noxious weeds have been treated no later than rosette to bud stage (or boot stage for perennial grasses classified as weeds), prior to cutting or harvesting.

Can forage be certified in another state and allowed to move freely through interstate commerce?
Yes. A state’s authorized representative can certify forage in any state if it meets the North American Forage Certification Standards. Certified forage may or may not meet the forage quality standards adopted by the Hay Marketing Task Force of the American Forage and Grassland Council.